Nutritional composition to promote healthy development and growth

ABSTRACT

A nutritional composition for improving the immunological function of a subject, including a lipid or fat; a protein source; about 5 to about 100 mg/100 kcal of a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which comprises docosahexanoic acid; and about 0.1 to about 1 mg/100 kcal of a prebiotic composition, wherein the prebiotic composition comprises at least 20% of an oligosaccharide which has a fermentation rate which is demonstrably slower than that of galacto-oligosaccharide.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/463,981, filed May 11, 2009 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,287,931, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to the field of nutritional compositions. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a nutritional composition which provides improved digestibility, as compared to conventional compositions.

BACKGROUND

The gut microflora of a human is a complex collection of interrelated microbes which act together to facilitate the digestive process. In the case of infants, the gut microflora is rapidly established in the first few weeks following birth. The nature of this intestinal colonization is initially determined by early exposure to environmental sources of microbes as well as the health of the infant. Whether the infant is breast-fed or composition fed also has a strong influence on the intestinal bacterial population.

In the breast-fed infant, for example, Bifidobacterium spp. dominate among intestinal bacteria, with Streptococcus spp. and Lactobacillus spp. as less common contributors. In contrast, the microflora of formula-fed infants is more diverse, containing Bifidobacterium spp. and Bacteroides spp. as well as the more pathogenic species, Staphylococcus, Escherichia coli and Clostridia. The varied species of Bifidobacterium in the stools of breast-fed and formula-fed infants differ as well.

Bifidobacteria are generally considered “beneficial” bacteria and are known to protect against colonization by pathogenic bacteria. This likely occurs through competition for cell surface receptors, competition for essential nutrients, production of anti-microbial agents, and production of inhibitory compounds such as short chain fatty acids (SCFA) which may decrease fecal pH and inhibit potentially pathogenic bacteria.

Bifidobacteria are also associated with resistance to gastrointestinal (GI) tract and respiratory infection as well as an enhanced immune function, especially in children and infants. Therefore, the promotion of an intestinal environment in which Bifidobacteria dominate has become a goal in the development of nutritional compositions, including nutritional formulations for adults and children and compositions for formula-fed infants.

Human milk (HM) contains a number of factors that may contribute to the growth and population of Bifidobacteria in the gut microflora of infants. Among these factors is a complex mixture of more than 130 different oligosaccharides that reach levels as high as 8-12 g/L in transitional and mature milk. Kunz, et al., Oligosaccharides in Human Milk: Structure, Functional, and Metabolic Aspects, Ann. Rev. Nutr. 20: 699-722 (2000). These oligosaccharides are resistant to enzymatic digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract and reach the colon intact, where they serve as substrates for colonic fermentation.

HM oligosaccharides are believed to elicit an increase in the number of Bifidobacteria in the colonic flora, along with a reduction in the number of potentially pathogenic bacteria. Kunz, et al., Oligosaccharides in Human Milk: Structure, Functional, and Metabolic Aspects, Ann. Rev. Nutr. 20: 699-722 (2000); Newburg, Do the Binding Properties of Oligosaccharides in Milk Protect Human Infants from Gastrointestinal Bacteria?, J. Nutr. 217:S980-S984 (1997). One way that HM oligosaccharides may increase the number of Bifidobacteria and reduce the number of potentially pathogenic bacteria is by acting as competitive receptors and inhibiting the binding of pathogens to the cell surface. Rivero-Urgell, et al., Oligosaccharides: Application in Infant Food, Early Hum. Dev. 65(S):43-52 (2001).

In addition to reducing the number of pathogenic bacteria and promoting the population of Bifidobacteria, when HM oligosaccharides are fermented, they produce SCFAs such as acetic, propionic and butyric acids. These SCFAs are believed to contribute to caloric content, serve as a major energy source for the intestinal epithelium, stimulate sodium and water absorption in the colon, and enhance small bowel digestion and absorption. In addition, SCFA are believed to contribute to overall gastrointestinal health by modulating gastrointestinal development and immune function.

The fermentation of HM oligosaccharides also reduces fecal ammonia, amine, and phenol concentrations, which have been implicated as the major odorous components of feces. Cummings & Macfarlane, The Control and Consequences of Bacterial Fermentation in the Human Colon, J. Appl. Bacteriol. 70:443-459 (1991); Miner & Hazen, Ammonia and Amines: Components of Swine-Building Odor ASAE 12:772-774 (1969); Spoelstra, Origin of Objectionable Components in Piggery Wastes and the Possibility of Applying Indicator Components for Studying Odour Development, Agric. Environ. 5:241-260 (1980); O'Neill & Phillips, A Review of the Control of Odor Nuisance from Livestock Buildings: Part 3. Properties of the Odorous Substances which have been Identified in Livestock Wastes or in the Air Around them J. Agric. Eng. Res. 53:23-50 (1992).

As a result of the oligosaccharides present in HM, the SCFA profile of a breast-fed infant is very different from that of a formula-fed infant. For example, breast-fed infants produce virtually no butyrate, with acetate comprising approximately 96% of the total SCFA production. Lifschitz, et al., Characterization of Carbohydrate Fermentation in Feces of Composition-Fed and Breast-Fed Infants, Pediatr. Res. 27:165-169 (1990); Siigur, et al., Faecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Breast-Fed and Bottle-Fed Infants. Acta. Paediatr. 82:536-538 (1993); Edwards, et al., Faecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Breast-Fed and Formula-Fed Babies, Acta. Paediatr. 72:459-462 (1994); Parrett & Edwards, In Vitro Fermentation of Carbohydrates by Breast Fed and Formula Fed Infants, Arch. Dis. Child 76:249-253 (1997). In contrast, while formula-fed infants also have acetate (74%) as the major SCFA in feces, they have considerable amounts of propionate (23%) and small amounts of butyrate (3%) present as well. These differences between the SCFA profiles of breast-fed infants and formula-fed infants could affect the energy, digestion, and overall health of the formula-fed infant.

Because cow's milk and commercially available infant formulas that are based on cow's milk provide only trace amounts of oligosaccharides, prebiotics are often used to supplement the diet of formula-fed infants. Prebiotics have been defined as “non-digestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon that can improve the health of the host”. Gibson, G. R. & Roberfroid, M. B., Dietary Modulation of the Human Colonic Microbiota-Introducing the Concept of Probiotics, J. Nutr. 125:1401-1412 (1995). Common prebiotics include fructo-oligosaccharide, gluco-oligosaccharide, galacto-oligosaccharide, isomalto-oligosaccharide, xylo-oligosaccharide and lactulose.

The incorporation of various prebiotic ingredients into infant formulas has been disclosed. For example, U.S. Patent App. No. 2003/0072865 to Bindels, et al. discloses an infant formula with an improved protein content and at least one prebiotic. The prebiotic component can be lacto-N-tetaose, lacto-N-fuco-pentaose, lactulose (LOS), lactosucrose, raffinose, galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS), fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS), oligosaccharides derived from soybean polysaccharides, mannose-based oligosaccharides, arabino-oligosaccharides, xylo-oligosaccharides, isomalto-oligo-saccharides, glucans, sialyl oligosaccharides, and fuco-oligosaccharides.

Similarly, U.S. Patent App. No. 2004/0191234 to Haschke discloses a method for enhancing the immune response which comprises administering at least one prebiotic. The prebiotic can be an oligosaccharide produced from glucose, galactose, xylose, maltose, sucrose, lactose, starch, xylan, hemicellulose, inulin, or a mixture thereof. The prebiotic can be present in an infant cereal.

In addition, other factors present in human breast milk are believed to be beneficial to the developing body. For instance, functional proteins such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) play a significant role in many processes necessary for health and development, in infants and children, as well as adults.

More specifically, TGF-β is the general name for a family of polypeptides, the members of which have multifunctional regulatory activities. Three differentially regulated mammalian isoforms (termed TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGF-β3) play important roles in a multitude of processes in the developing infant, child and adult. TGF-β is a 25-kDa homodimeric cytokine known to mediate pleitropic functions both within the immune system and systemically, it is expressed in several cell types in the intestinal mucosal including lymphocytes, epithelial cells, macrophages, and stromal cells as well as by T-cells, neutrophils, macrophages, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, platelets, osteoblasts, osteoclasts and others. In addition, TGF-β is present in human breast milk and may influence multiple aspects of infant health and development.

Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a nutritional composition which provides a combination of nutrients designed to encourage healthy development and growth, especially in an infant. Included in the nutritional composition should be a prebiotic substance that simulates the functional attributes of human milk oligosaccharides in infants, such as an increase in the population and species of beneficial bacteria in the infant gut and production of a SCFA profile similar to that of a breast-fed infant. Additionally, the nutritional composition should be well tolerated in animals, especially human infants and should not produce or cause excess gas, abdominal distension, bloating or diarrhea.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Briefly, the present disclosure is directed, in an embodiment, to a nutritional composition comprising a lipid or fat, a protein source, a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which include docosahexanoic acid (DHA), a prebiotic composition having at least 20% of an oligosaccharide which has a fermentation rate which is demonstrably slower than that of galacto-oligosaccharide. In some embodiments, the composition further includes a functional protein such as TGF-β. Moreover, in certain embodiments, the prebiotic comprises polydextrose.

The invention is also directed to a nutritional product comprising:

a. up to about 7 g/100 kcal of a fat or lipid, more preferably about 3 to about 7 g/100 kcal of a fat or lipid;

b. up to about 5 g/100 kcal of a protein source, more preferably about 1 to about 5 g/100 kcal of a protein source;

c. about 5 to about 100 mg/100 kcal of a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which include DHA, more preferably about 10 to about 50 mg/100 kcal of a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which include DHA; and

d. about 1.0 to about 10.0 g/L of a prebiotic composition having at least 20% of an oligosaccharide which has a fermentation rate which is demonstrably slower than that of galacto-oligosaccharide, more preferably about 2.0 g/L to about 8.0 g/L of a prebiotic composition having at least 20% of an oligosaccharide which has a fermentation rate which is demonstrably slower than that of galacto-oligosaccharide.

In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed to a nutritional composition having improved digestibility, the composition comprising a lipid or fat, a protein source, a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which include docosahexanoic acid (DHA), and a prebiotic composition having at least 20% of an oligosaccharide an oligosaccharide which has a fermentation rate which is demonstrably slower than that of galacto-oligosaccharide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One of the problems to be solved by the present invention is to provide novel nutritional products that are easily digested, provide physiochemical benefits, and/or provide physiological benefits. In an embodiment of the present invention, a nutritional composition comprises a lipid or fat, a protein source, a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which include docosahexanoic acid (DHA), a prebiotic composition having at least 20% of an oligosaccharide which has a fermentation rate which is demonstrably slower than that of galacto-oligosaccharide, and, optionally, TGF-β. In certain embodiments, the prebiotic comprises polydextrose, and can be a combination of polydextrose and galacto-oligosaccharide. More particularly, the composition disclosed herein comprises:

a. up to about 7 g/100 kcal of a fat or lipid, more preferably about 3 to about 7 g/100 kcal of a fat or lipid;

b. up to about 5 g/100 kcal of a protein source, more preferably about 1 to about 5 g/100 kcal of a protein source;

c. about 5 to about 100 mg/100 kcal of a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which include DHA, more preferably about 10 to about 50 mg/100 kcal of a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which include DHA; and

d. about 1.0 to about 10.0 g/L of a prebiotic composition having at least 20% of an oligosaccharide which has a fermentation rate which is demonstrably slower than that of galacto-oligosaccharide, more preferably about 2.0 g/L to about 8.0 g/L of a prebiotic composition having at least 20% of an oligosaccharide which has a fermentation rate which is demonstrably slower than that of galacto-oligosaccharide.

In an embodiment, the composition further includes about 0.015 to about 0.1 (pg/μg) ppm TGF-β, more preferably about 0.0225 to about 0.075 (pg/μg) ppm TGF-β.

In some embodiments, the nutritional composition may be an infant formula. As used herein, the term “infant” means a person not more than 12 months of age. The term “infant formula” applies to a composition in liquid or powdered form that satisfies the nutrient requirements of an infant by being a substitute for human milk. In the United States, the content of an infant formula is dictated by the federal regulations set forth at 21 C.F.R. §§100, 106 and 107. These regulations define macronutrient, vitamin, mineral, and other ingredient levels in an effort to simulate the nutritional and other properties of human breast milk. In a separate embodiment, the nutritional product may be a human milk fortifier, meaning it is a composition which is added to human milk in order to enhance the nutritional value of human milk. As a human milk fortifier, the inventive composition may be in powder or liquid form. In yet another embodiment, the inventive nutritional product may be a children's nutritional composition. As used herein, the term “young child” or “young children” means persons more than 12 months of age up to the age of three years (36 months). The term “child” or “children” as used herein means persons over the age of 3 years and prior to adolescence.

The nutritional products of the invention may provide minimal, partial, or total nutritional support. The compositions may be nutritional supplements or meal replacements. In some embodiments, the compositions may be administered in conjunction with a food or nutritional composition. In this embodiment, the compositions can either be intermixed with the food or other nutritional compositions prior to ingestion by the subject or can be administered to the subject either before or after ingestion of a food or nutritional composition. The compositions may be administered to preterm infants receiving infant formula, breast milk, a human milk fortifier, or combinations thereof. The term “preterm infants” or “premature infants” as used herein means infants born after less than 37 weeks gestation. In one embodiment, the composition is administered to preterm infants as an enteral nutritional supplement.

The compositions may, but need not, be nutritionally complete. The skilled artisan will recognize “nutritionally complete” to vary depending on a number of factors including, but not limited to, age, clinical condition, and dietary intake of the subject to whom the term is being applied. In general, “nutritionally complete” means that the nutritional composition of the present invention provides adequate amounts of all carbohydrates, lipids, essential fatty acids, proteins, essential amino acids, conditionally essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and energy required for normal growth. As applied to nutrients, the term “essential” refers to any nutrient which cannot be synthesized by the body in amounts sufficient for normal growth and to maintain health and which therefore must be supplied by the diet. The term “conditionally essential” as applied to nutrients means that the nutrient must be supplied by the diet under conditions when adequate amounts of the precursor compound is unavailable to the body for endogenous synthesis to occur.

The composition which is “nutritionally complete” for the preterm infant will, by definition, provide qualitatively and quantitatively adequate amounts of all carbohydrates, lipids, essential fatty acids, proteins, essential amino acids, conditionally essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and energy required for growth of the preterm infant. The composition which is “nutritionally complete” for the term infant will, by definition, provide qualitatively and quantitatively adequate amounts of all carbohydrates, lipids, essential fatty acids, proteins, essential amino acids, conditionally essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and energy required for growth of the term infant. The skilled artisan will recognize the term “term infant” as referring to infants born after at least 37 weeks gestation and, commonly, between 37 and 42 weeks gestation. The composition which is “nutritionally complete” for a child will, by definition, provide qualitatively and quantitatively adequate amounts of all carbohydrates, lipids, essential fatty acids, proteins, essential amino acids, conditionally essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and energy required for growth of a child given the specific age and developmental stage of said child.

The nutritional composition may be provided in any form known in the art, including a powder, a gel, a suspension, a paste, a solid, a liquid, a liquid concentrate, or a ready-to-use product. In one preferred embodiment, the nutritional composition is an infant composition, especially an infant composition adapted for use as sole source nutrition for an infant. In another embodiment, the nutritional composition is adapted for use as sole source nutrition for preterm infants. In other embodiments, the nutritional composition may be a follow-up formula, a growing-up milk, a milk modifier and combinations thereof.

In the preferred embodiments, the nutritional product disclosed herein may be administered enterally. As used herein, “enteral” means through or within the gastrointestinal, or digestive, tract, and “enteral administration” includes oral feeding, intragastric feeding, transpyloric administration, or any other introduction into the digestive tract.

Suitable fat or lipid sources for practicing the present invention may be any known or used in the art, including but not limited to, animal sources, e.g., milk fat, butter, butter fat, egg yolk lipid; marine sources, such as fish oils, marine oils, single cell oils; vegetable and plant oils, such as corn oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, palmolein, coconut oil, high oleic sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, rapeseed oil, olive oil, flaxseed (linseed) oil, cottonseed oil, high oleic safflower oil, palm stearin, palm kernel oil, wheat germ oil; medium chain triglyceride oils and emulsions and esters of fatty acids; and any combinations thereof.

Bovine milk protein sources useful in practicing the present invention include, but are not limited to, milk protein powders, milk protein concentrates, milk protein isolates, nonfat milk solids, nonfat milk, nonfat dry milk, whey protein, whey protein isolates, whey protein concentrates, sweet whey, acid whey, casein, acid casein, caseinate (e.g. sodium caseinate, sodium calcium caseinate, calcium caseinate) and any combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the proteins are provided as intact proteins. In other embodiments, the proteins are provided as a combination of both intact proteins and partially hydrolyzed proteins, with a degree of hydrolysis of between about 4% and 10%. In yet another embodiment, the protein source may be supplemented with glutamine-containing peptides.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the whey:casein ratio of the protein source is similar to that found in human breast milk. In an embodiment, the protein source comprises from about 40% to about 80% whey protein. In another embodiment, the protein source may comprise from about 20% to about 60% caseins.

In one embodiment of the invention, the nutritional composition may contain one or more probiotics. The term “probiotic” means a microorganism that exerts beneficial effects on the health of the host. Any probiotic known in the art may be acceptable in this embodiment provided it achieves the intended result. In a particular embodiment, the probiotic may be selected from Lactobacillus species, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium species, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12.

If included in the composition, the amount of the probiotic may vary from about 10⁴ to about 10¹⁰ colony forming units (cfu) per kg body weight per day. In another embodiment, the amount of the probiotic may vary from about 10⁶ to about 10⁹ cfu per kg body weight per day. In yet another embodiment, the amount of the probiotic may be at least about 10⁶ cfu per kg body weight per day.

In an embodiment, the probiotic(s) may be viable or non-viable. As used herein, the term “viable”, refers to live microorganisms. The term “non-viable” or “non-viable probiotic” means non-living probiotic microorganisms, their cellular components and/or metabolites thereof. Such non-viable probiotics may have been heat-killed or otherwise inactivated but retain the ability to favorably influence the health of the host. The probiotics useful in the present invention may be naturally-occurring, synthetic or developed through the genetic manipulation of organisms, whether such new source is now known or later developed.

The nutritional composition contains one or more prebiotics. The term “prebiotic” as used herein refers to indigestible food ingredients which exert health benefits upon the host. Such health benefits may include, but are not limited to, selective stimulation of the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of beneficial gut bacteria, stimulation of the growth and/or activity of ingested probiotic microorganisms, selective reduction in gut pathogens, and favorable influence on gut short chain fatty acid profile. Such prebiotics may be naturally-occurring, synthetic, or developed through the genetic manipulation of organisms and/or plants, whether such new source is now known or developed later. Prebiotics useful in the present invention may include oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, and other prebiotics that contain fructose, xylose, soya, galactose, glucose and mannose. More specifically, prebiotics useful in the present invention may include lactulose, lactosucrose, raffinose, gluco-oligosaccharide, inulin, polydextrose, polydextrose powder, fructo-oligosaccharide, isomalto-oligosaccharide, soybean oligosaccharides, lactosucrose, xylo-oligosacchairde, chito-oligosaccharide, manno-oligosaccharide, aribino-oligosaccharide, siallyl-oligosaccharide, fuco-oligosaccharide, and gentio-oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharide.

In an embodiment, the total amount of prebiotics present in the nutritional composition may be from about 1.0 g/L to about 10.0 g/L of the composition. As noted, the total amount of prebiotics present in the nutritional composition may be from about 2.0 g/L and about 8.0 g/L of the composition. At least 20% of the prebiotics should comprise an oligosaccharide which has a fermentation rate which is demonstrably slower than that of galacto-oligosaccharide.

The inclusion of comprise an oligosaccharide which has a fermentation rate which is demonstrably slower than that of galacto-oligosaccharide, such as polydextrose (PDX), functions to decrease the rate and extent of fermentation of prebiotics within the gut, which facilitates tolerance, especially in infants, and simulates the functional attributes of human milk oligosaccharides, providing a short chain fatty acid profile similar to that of a breast-fed infant.

Polydextrose is a non-digestible carbohydrate that can be synthesized from randomly cross-linked glucose and sorbitol. It is not digested in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and is only partially fermented in the lower GI tract, making it a beneficial ingredient for digestive health. The physiological benefits of polydextrose include increased fecal bulk, reduced transit time, reduced fecal pH and reduced concentration of putrefactive substances in the colon. In the infant gut, polydextrose is primarily metabolized to acetate and propionate, with little butyrate formation (butyrate has been associated with harmful effects if produced at significant levels in the infant intestine); in adults, polydextrose has been shown to increase the production of acetate and butyrate.

In addition to polydextrose, the prebiotic composition can also comprise galacto-oligosacchardie (sometimes referred to as trans-galacto-oligosaccharide, or GOS), which has been described as a mixture of D-glucose and D-galactose. If galacto-oligosaccharide is used as a prebiotic, the amount of galacto-oligosaccharide in the nutritional composition may, in an embodiment, be within the range of from about 1.0 g/L to about 4.0 g/L.

The amount of polydextrose in the nutritional composition may, in an embodiment, be from about 0.2 mg/100 Kcal to about 1.0 mg/100 Kcal. In another embodiment, the amount of polydextrose in the nutritional composition may be from about 0.1 mg/100 Kcal to about 0.5 mg/100 Kcal. If galacto-oligosaccharide is used as a prebiotic, the amount of galacto-oligosaccharide in the nutritional composition may, in an embodiment, be within the range of from about 0.1 mg/100 Kcal to about 0.5 mg/100 Kcal. In a particular embodiment, polydextrose and galacto-oligosaccharide are supplemented into the nutritional composition in a total amount of about 0.6 mg/100 Kcal.

The nutritional composition of the invention contains a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) which comprise docosahexanoic acid (DHA). Other suitable LCPUFAs include, but are not limited to, α-linoleic acid, γ-linoleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (ARA).

In one embodiment, the nutritional composition is supplemented with both DHA and ARA. In this embodiment, the weight ratio of ARA:DHA may be from about 1:3 to about 9:1. In one embodiment of the present invention, this ratio is from about 1:2 to about 4:1.

The amount of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the nutritional composition may vary from about 5 mg/100 kcal to about 100 mg/100 kcal, more preferably from about 10 mg/100 kcal to about 50 mg/100 kcal.

The nutritional composition may be supplemented with oils containing DHA and ARA using standard techniques known in the art. For example, DHA and ARA may be added to the composition by replacing an equivalent amount of an oil, such as high oleic sunflower oil, normally present in the composition. As another example, the oils containing DHA and ARA may be added to the composition by replacing an equivalent amount of the rest of the overall fat blend normally present in the composition without DHA and ARA.

If utilized, the source of DHA and ARA may be any source known in the art such as marine oil, fish oil, single cell oil, egg yolk lipid, and brain lipid. In some embodiments, the DHA and ARA are sourced from the single cell Martek oil, DHASCO®, or variations thereof. The DHA and ARA can be in natural form, provided that the remainder of the LCPUFA source does not result in any substantial deleterious effect on the infant. Alternatively, the DHA and ARA can be used in refined form.

In an embodiment of the present invention, sources of DHA and ARA are single cell oils as taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,374,567; 5,550,156; and 5,397,591, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. However, the present invention is not limited to only such oils.

In a particular embodiment, the composition of the invention is a milk-based nutritional composition which provides physiochemical and physiological benefits. As is known in the art, bovine milk protein comprises two major components: acid soluble whey protein and acid insoluble casein, with the latter representing about 80% of the total protein content of bovine milk. Upon entering the acidic environment of the stomach, casein precipitates and complexes with minerals forming semi-solid curds of varying size and firmness. Softer, smaller curds are easier for the body to digest than larger, harder curds. Curd formation may be an important consideration in the development of nutritional compositions, including, but not limited to infant formulas, medical foods, and premature infant formulas. In an embodiment of the present invention, the composition of the invention provides a nutritional composition having softer and smaller curds than standard infant formulas.

As discussed above, in certain embodiments, the nutritional composition of the invention also contains a functional protein such as TGF-β. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the level of TGF-β in the inventive composition is from about 0.0150 (pg/μg) ppm to about 0.1000 (pg/μg) ppm. In another embodiment, the level of TGF-β in the inventive composition is from about 0.0225 (pg/μg) ppm to about 0.0750 (pg/μg) ppm.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the level of TGF-β in the inventive composition is from about 2500 pg/mL to about 10,000 pg/mL composition, more preferably from about 3000 pg/mL to about 8000 pg/mL.

In one embodiment, the ratio of TGF-β1: TGF-β2 in the inventive composition is in the range of about 1:1 to about 1:20, or, more particularly, in the range of about 1:5 to about 1:15.

In some embodiments, the bioactivity of TGF-β in a nutritional composition is enhanced by the addition of a bioactive-enriched whey fraction bioactive whey fraction. In an embodiment, this bioactive whey fraction may be a whey protein concentrate. In a particular embodiment, the whey protein concentrate may be Salibra® 800, available from Glanbia Nutritionals. In another embodiment, the whey protein concentrate may be Nutri Whey 800, available from DMV International. In yet another embodiment, the whey protein concentrate may be Salibra-850, available from Glanbia Nutritionals. In still another embodiment, the whey protein concentrate may be Prolacta Lacatalis WPI90, available from Lactilus Industrie U.S.A., Inc. In a further embodiment, the whey protein concentrate may be supplied by MG Nutritionals.

In some embodiments, the composition of the invention induces oral tolerance. As used herein, the term “oral tolerance” refers to the specific suppression of cellular and/or humoral immune responses to an antigen by prior administration of the antigen by the oral route. Oral tolerance affects the responsiveness of the local immune system in the intestinal mucosa itself, thus preventing hypersensitivity reactions to food proteins that could otherwise elicit potent inflammatory reactions in the gut. Development of oral tolerance is an important component in appropriate mucosal immune function. Oral antigens, like food, food proteins, or commensal bacteria, are normally processed in a manner that results in a regulated immune response. This response does not injure the host and results in systemic hypo-responsiveness in subsequent oral challenge with the same food antigen. Thus oral tolerance is established. Oral tolerance can fail, however, in response to the development and pathogenesis of several immunologically based diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. In a particular embodiment, the combination of TGF-β and the prebiotics of the present invention may synergistically contribute to the induction and/or promotion of oral tolerance to antigens in circumstances where oral tolerance has previously failed. In some embodiments, the induction of oral tolerance may be enhanced by administration of the composition of the invention. In other embodiments, the oral tolerance acquired by a subject may be promoted or maintained by administration of the composition of the invention.

The following example describes an embodiment of the present disclosure. Other embodiments within the scope of the claims herein will be apparent to one skilled in the art from consideration of the specification or practice of the invention as disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification, together with the examples, be considered to be exemplary only, with the scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the claims which follow the examples. In the examples, all percentages are given on a weight basis unless otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLE

This example illustrates an embodiment of a powdered infant formula of the present disclosure.

Ingredients Ingredient Amount per 100 kg Lactose, Grind A 35.119 kg Palm Olein Oil 12.264 kg Coconut Oil 5.451 kg Soy Oil 5.451 kg High Oleic Sunflower Oil 4.088 kg Non-Fat Dry Milk, Medium-Heat, Spray Dried 14.667 kg Whey Protein Concentrate, 35% Protein, 14.667 kg Super Sack Galacto-Oligosaccharide Syrup (77% solids, 3.477 kg 44% fiber) Polydextrose Power (96% total solids, 1.770 kg 96% carbohydrate, 86% fiber) Calcium Gluconate, Monohydrate 1.606 kg Single Cell Arachidonic Acid Oil 0.347 kg Single Cell Docosahexaenoic Acid Oil 0.238 kg Choline Bitartrate 0.228 kg Potassium Chloride 0.198 kg Sodium Chloride 24.780 g Magnesium Oxide, Light 22.790 g L-Carnitine 9.910 g Ascorbic Acid 156.687 g Inositol 39.887 g Corn Syrup Solids 35.478 g Taurine 33.875 g Dry vitamin E Tocopheryl Acetate, 50% 25.279 g Vitamin A Palmitate, Dry Beadlets, CW 7.871 g Dispersible, 250 Niacinamide 6.475 g Vitamin K1 Dry Phytonadione USP 5.454 g Powder, 1% Calcium Pantothenate 3.299 g Vitamin B₁₂, 0.1% in starch 2.122 g Biotin Trituration, 1% 1.608 g Vitamin D₃ Powder 0.969 g Riboflavin 0.755 g Thiamine Hydrochloride 0.601 g Pyridoxine Hydrochloride 0.518 g Folic Acid 0.122 g Corn Syrup Solids 192.187 g Ferrous Sulfate, Heptahydrate 49.600 g Ascorbic Acid 6.213 g Malto-Dextrin 146.096 g Cytidine 5′-Monohposphate, Free Acid 11.604 g Uridine 5′-Monophosphate, Disodium Salt 3.419 g Adenosine 5′-Monophosphate, Free Acid 2.711 g Guanosine 5′-Monophosphate, Disodium Salt 2.170 g Lactose, Grind A 138.017 g Zinc Sulfate, Monohydrate 16.422 g Corn Syrup Solids 3.616 g Sodium Selenite, Anhydrous 0.018 g Cupric Sulfate, Powder (CuSO₄•5H₂O) 1.688 g Manganese Sulfate, Monohydrate 0.239 g

Proximate Analysis Grams per 100 Grams per mL at Normal Caloric 100 g Dilution Distribution Protein 10.84 1.47 8.50 Fat 28.57 3.89 50.67 Carbohydrate 54.87 7.46 40.83 Ash 2.70 0.37 Moisture 3.02 89.9 Calories 508 69.1

Nutrients Nutrient Quantities per 100 Calories Calories 100 Protein, g 2.1 Fat, g 5.6 Carbohydrates, g 10.6 Ash, g 0.6 Water, mL (normal dilution) 133 Linoleic Acid, mg 900 α-Linolenic Acid, mg 85 Arachidonic Acid, mg 25 Docosahexaenoic Acid, mg 17 Vitamin A, IU 300 Vitamin D, IU 60 Vitamin E, IU 2 Vitamin K, mcg 8 Thiamin, mcg 80 Riboflavin, mcg 140 Vitamin B₆, mcg 60 Vitamin B₁₂, mcg 0.3 Niacin, mcg 1000 Folic Acid, mcg 16 Pantothenic Acid, mcg 500 Biotin, mcg 3 Vitamin C, mg 12 Choline, mg 24 Inositol, mg 6 Taurine, mg 6 Carnitine, mg 2 Calcium, mg 78 Phosphorus, mg 43 Magnesium, mg 8 Iron, mg 1.8 Zinc, mg 1 Manganese, mcg 15 Copper, mcg 75 Iodine, mcg 10 Sodium, mg 27 Potassium, mg 108 Chloride, mg 63 Selenium, mcg 2.8 Polydextrose 0.3 Galacto-oligosaccharide 0.3 AMP Equivalents, mg 0.5 CMP Equivalents, mg 2.5 GMP Equivalents, mg 0.3 UMP Equivalents, mg 0.9 Nucleotide Equivalents, mg 4.2

To prepare 1 liter of product at standard dilution (20 kcal/fl. oz.), 136 grams of powder was mixed with 895.2 grams of water. To prepare 1 quart of product at standard dilution, 128.7 grams of powder was mixed with 847.2 grams water.

Upon reconstitution, the infant formula described in this example contains approximately 2 g/L of galacto-oligosaccharide and 2 g/L of polydextrose. The infant formula has an ARA level of 25 mg/100 kcal. The formula contains 5.6 g fat/100 kcal, to achieve a fat content which is similar to human milk. The formula additionally has a low buffer strength.

All pH adjustments with regard to this infant formula were made with solutions of potassium hydroxide. The specific gravity of the formula is 1.03117.

All references cited in this specification, including without limitation, all papers, publications, patents, patent applications, presentations, texts, reports, manuscripts, brochures, books, internet postings, journal articles, periodicals, and the like, are hereby incorporated by reference into this specification in their entireties. The discussion of the references herein is intended merely to summarize the assertions made by their authors and no admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. Applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinence of the cited references.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described using specific terms, devices, and methods, such description is for illustrative purposes only. The words used are words of description rather than of limitation. It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit or the scope of the present invention, which is set forth in the following claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged both in whole or in part. For example, while methods for the production of a commercially sterile liquid nutritional supplement made according to those methods have been exemplified, other uses are contemplated. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained therein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for promoting oral tolerance to food protein antigens in an infant, comprising administering to the infant a nutritional composition comprising a. a lipid or fat; b. a protein source; c. about 5 to about 100 mg/100 kcal of a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which comprises docosahexanoic acid; d. about 1.0 to about 10.0 g/L of a prebiotic composition, wherein the prebiotic composition comprises at least 20% of an oligosaccharide which has a fermentation rate which is demonstrably slower than that of galacto-oligosaccharide; and e. about 2500 pg to about 10,000 pg TGF-B per mL of composition, wherein the ratio of TGF-β1: TGF-β2 is about 1:1 to about 1:20, and wherein the combination of TGF-β and the prebiotic contributes to the induction of oral tolerance to antigens in an infant, wherein the infant had established oral tolerance to the antigens but oral tolerance has since failed.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the prebiotic composition comprises polydextrose.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the prebiotic composition further comprises galacto-oligosaccharide.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises at least one probiotic.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the probiotic is selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis BB-12.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the probiotic comprises a non-viable probiotic.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the nutritional composition further comprises a bioactive-enhanced whey fraction.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the nutritional composition further comprises at least one nucleotide selected from the group consisting of cytidine 5′-monophosphate, uridine 5′-monophosphate, adenosine 5′-monophosphate, and guanosine 5′-monophosphate.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the protein source comprises glutamine-containing peptides.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the protein source comprises from about40% to about 80% whey protein.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the protein source comprises from about20% to about 60% casein protein.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the protein source comprises intact protein and partially hydrolyzed protein.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the protein source comprises hydrolyzed protein having a degree of hydrolysis of between about 4% and 10%. 